Sacrificing Ayda by D.A. Beaumont

What worked:

Ayda doesn’t have many friends, and her teacher has frequent problems with her. Villagers accuse her mother of being a witch, so Ayda dreams of fleeing to Witch Marsh. She’s chosen to sacrifice her life to protect all of Zandia, but she doesn’t want to give her life for people who hate her. When an entourage arrives to take her away, a Wilder named Sunny helps her escape. His role is to lead Ayda to her destination, but he says he’ll take her to Witch Marsh or to the Pit where she’ll be sacrificed. It’s up to her, but he warns that Witch Marsh may not turn out as she expects.

Sunny is the most interesting character, and readers will suspect he’s much older than he seems. He always seems to know about future events, but he never tells Ayda what she should do. He pops up to offer assistance and counsel and speaks to Ayda in her dreams, too. He performs nature magic, repels witch spells, and Aden says he must be a wizard. Sunny always wears a smile, and his confidence always makes Ayda want to trust him. Some of his recommendations seem to put her life in danger, making Ayda seriously think about what he says.  

A witch named Dara tells Ayda that being a witch is about power. “And power comes from being the one inflicting the pain, not being the one receiving it.” Ayda’s major internal conflict is deciding whether she should venture to Witch Marsh or follow Sunny’s idea and travel to the Pit. Readers will think that it’s best if she does as Sunny says, but how can her sacrifice at the Pit be the best decision? On the other hand, Ayda already displays tattoos that identify her as a witch. So doesn’t it make sense that she should go to the Witch Marsh, where she’ll be accepted by witches just like herself?

What didn’t work as well:

Ayda and Dara form a bond as events evolve, but it’s unexpected and a little confusing. Dara spits threats and demonstrates how witches inflict pain, but Ayda still feels a need to protect her. Ayda seems to care more for Dara than the witch feels for her.

The final verdict:

The story presents many twists and turns, so young readers may be frequently surprised. A case can be made that the book is a metaphorical look at God and the Devil. Overall, I recommend you give this book a shot.